Path Finder helps people with Parkinson’s to walk
A big problem among thousands of Parkinson’s patients is their ability to walk properly. Here, health correspondent Mark Smith highlights how university researchers are aiming to combat this potentially dangerous dilemma through technology...
Around half of people with Parkinson’s disease suffer from something known as freezing of gait, or FoG for short. The frustrating symptom makes it feel like a person’s feet are glued to the floor which stops them walking properly.
It can affect balance, increase the likelihood of someone developing a shuffle or, in worst case scenarios, lead to them falling over.
In a bid to combat this problem, researchers from a Welsh university have helped create a new piece of kit which has the potential to transform the lives of Parkinson’s patients – and save the health service money in the process.
Path Finder is a laser light device which attaches to a shoe and projects a horizontal line on the ground in front of the user at a set distance from their feet.
This gives the wearer a visual cue to step across and acts as an external stimulus to trigger walking.
A team of researchers from Swansea’s University of Wales Trinity Saint David’s (UWTSD) Wales Centre for Advanced Batch Manufacture (CBM) worked with a Londonbased company Walk With Path on the technology.
A prototype had already been made which proved the principle, and CBM was tasked with developing this into a commercial product.
Working closely with Walk With Path and potential users, CBM detailed each component in 3D computer-aided design before manufacturing three sets of working prototypes for extensive user testing.
A full set of 2D control drawings were produced for manufacture and within 12 months Walk With Path launched the device.
Company founder Lise Pape said: “CBM helped us to prototype multiple iterations of our product, carrying out user testing at each stage by using their rapid prototyping services to make devices our users could interact with.”
The CBM team were named among the Nation’s Lifesavers – the top 100 individuals or groups based in universities whose work has made a life-changing difference to the UK’s health and wellbeing.
They have been named as part of Universities UK’s MadeAtUni campaign, which brings to life the impact of universities on everyday lives.
Other projects involved in the campaign include the use of drones to fight malaria, a smart glove for communicating sign language and robots helping older people.
Professor Medwin Hughes, the vicechancellor of UWTSD, said: “I am delighted that the work of the University’s Wales Centre for Advanced Batch Manufacture is featured in the list of 100 of the Nation’s Lifesavers.
“CBM has developed a reputation as a leading authority in advanced manufacture and provides innovative solutions to a range of sectors including human and veterinary medicine.
“The MadeAtUni campaign is a great chance to celebrate the many ways universities across the UK are having a significant impact on our everyday lives.”
Professor Dame Janet Beer, president of Universities UK, said: “When people think of lifesavers they tend to focus on the dedication and skill of our doctors, nurses, carers, and paramedics – many of whom are trained at universities.
“Every day, up and down the country, universities are also working on innovations to transform and save lives. Research taking place in universities is finding solutions to so many of the health and wellbeing issues we care about and the causes that matter.
“By proudly working in partnership with charities, the NHS and healthcare organisations, universities are responsible for some of our biggest health breakthroughs and in revolutionising the delivery of care.
“This campaign is a chance to bring to life the wonderful and often unexpected work going on every day in our universities and to celebrate some of the people working to make a life-changing difference to the nation.”
Research shows the public are proud of UK universities but have little understanding of the benefits they bring, with most not being aware that UK academics are behind many of the discoveries that save lives and keep up healthy.
The MadeAtUni campaign gives the public an insight into some of this work and celebrates those who made it happen.
■ More information on the campaign can be found by going to www.madeatuni.org.uk